Expert Commentary

Latest Articles

Environmental

Mold Excluded in Homeowner's Policy Is Not Covered as an Ensuing Loss of Leaking Water

Kent Holland | January 1, 2007

Kent Holland relates a Texas case holding no coverage for an excluded category of loss that follows from a covered loss.

Continuous Performance Improvement

Deming's Point #12 as Applied to the Insurance Industry

John Pryor | January 1, 2007

John Pryor examines Deming's admonition along with industry icon and role model Bernard J. Daenzer.

Wrap-Up Programs

Wrap-Ups and the Issue of Collateral—Part 1

Richard Resnick | January 1, 2007

Rich Resnick looks at some technical issues regarding what collateral is and the reasoning behind why underwriters require it.

Ethics

Is Accident Forgiveness Ethical?

George Head | December 1, 2006

Dr. George Head discusses how accident forgiveness violates fundamental insurance principles to the detriment of all.

Determining the Optimal Combination of Risk Retention and Risk Transfer

Donald Riggin | December 1, 2006

In his Risk Finance column, Don Riggin provides a financial metric for comparing any combination of retention and transfer.

Property Insurance

The Acts or Decisions Exclusion That Tried to Swallow the Policy

Jay Levin | December 1, 2006

Jay Levin explains that while an acts or decisions exclusion uses extremely broad language, courts enforce it in a common-sense manner to avoid absurd results.

Reinsurance

The Strain To Retain

Larry Schiffer | December 1, 2006

Larry Schiffer discusses the symbiotic relationship between the reinsured and the reinsurer, and the reinsurance contract provisions that affect this relationship.

Terrorism Risk Management and Insurance

The PWG Report on the Future of Terrorism Insurance Availability and Affordability: Something for Everyone?

James Macdonald | November 1, 2006

The Presidential Working Group report contains many questionable omissions and conclusions, and offers no definitive public policy position. James Macdonald explains.

Government Bailout or Catastrophe "Insurance"?

Gary Bausom | November 1, 2006

While financial managers need to address insurance for catastrophic events, history reveals that the majority of funding will most likely come from the government, per Gary Bausom.